High School Graduation

[kalliyan1]

My son is graduating from HS this May(first child). I'm wanting to have a HS open house for his friends and classmates. In doing so, I'm wanting to have an assortment of light foods to offer buffet style but I'm at a loss as to what might be appropriate and nice. I don't want to break the bank but don't want to serve peanut butter & jelly either
Some initial thoughts I have are:

Candy buffet
Chocolate fountain w/fruits, etc. for dipping
Cupcake Tower w/themed small cake on top
(can ya tell I have no trouble w/the sweets)
veggie tray w/dips

what else???? I don't know if I'm going to do some or all of the above but that is just my initial thoughts.

Thanks for any thoughts and suggetions

 

[sullins5]

My guy (24) likes a 'little something' to sustain him besides sweets. So when his friends come over I serve :
rendexvous sausage & cheese (just sausage-like polka kielbasa- seasoned w/ dry rub Rendexvous and skillet fried)
small ham and cheese rolls (just little dinner rolls w/ sandwich ham & small piece of cheese in it and heated)
popcorn chicken and dipping sauces
pizza dip and fritos

All of these are relatively cheap (especially compared to a chocolate fountain)...need any more ideas, just ask!

Good Luck and Congratulations! It's a sweet time for them and a prouder time for mom and dad!!

 

[blackforest]

Meatballs in a good sauce are realatively cheap, stay heated in a crockpot well, and area bit more substantial for those teen appetites!

I fix ours with a sauce of chili sauce and grape jelly. Can be reheated too.

 

[MsLeFever]

sloppy jos? chili?

 

[hanutedmansionmomma]

DD graduates this May too

I was thinking about sub trays from a local grocery store or sub shop, chips, veggie tray. (I don't want to be grilling/cooking that day! Bring on the trays!)
Love the cupcake idea - you could do school colors.

 

[Pigeon]

I would do chips, assorted subs, salads or veggie platter and cookies.

 

[ENSOCK]

I agree with the meatball in sauce. I mix mine with BBQ sauce and either grape or apple jelly. WE also just slice sausages and mix in plus a can of pineapple.

Subway has trays of subs or for the same just load a tray with sliced ham, turkey and roast beef and a tray of sliced cheese. Put small breads in a basket. Serve with small bowls of mayo and mustard.

Pizza dip is a hit but so is the 7 layer mexican dip. They love that and it is best served cold.

Also, drummettes. We have a local place that will fry 5 lbs for like $20.00. Kinda high but tray is empty.

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

You are planning to serve far too many sweets. HS boys need real food!

If you are a Costco member, they have a good selection of frozen appetizers which you just need to heat up.

To make things really easy, order some delivery pizza.

 

[jgates]

I'd skip the fountain, although he probably would like the candy buffet. I can't see a boy getting quite as excited about it as a girl, LOL.

Around here (probably a Wisconsin thing - lots of meat LOL)......

Meatballs in dip (as mentioned)
Little smokies in a BBQ Dip
BBQ's or Pulled Pork/Pork sandwiches
Sliced Ham on buns
Brats and/or Hot Dogs
Beans (find a recipe with bacon & hamburger in it)
Texas Caviar (corn/beans/good seasons dressing/onion/avacado-if someone needs the recipe yell) with Taco Chips
Chips & Dip
Pickle/Cream Cheese roll-ups
Deviled Eggs
Veggie Pizza
Fruit Pizza

I could think of lots of other things we have eaten - but I know things like BBQ's my g.f. said she never encountered at graduations until she moved here from Indiana. They had entirely different 'menus' down there.

I'm actually considering possibly prepping the BBQ meat maybe mid-May & freezing it in bags or ice-cream pails until the day. Less mucky-muck that weekend.

 

[sparkyboy]

I'd go for subway sandwiches, chips, veggie trays, cookies. bottles of water and sodas. Many of the kids go to a number of open houses in a matter of few hours so they tend to "graze" their way through those open houses. Good luck

 

[cruisnfamily]

Hey, join us parents of seniors on this thread

 

[MrsPete]

A thought on scheduling: With so many of his friends graduating along with him, you might consider not holding your Open house on THE DAY. It's perfectly acceptable to hold a party on the Friday or Saturday night before graduation, or to have a brunch on Saturday after a Friday night graduation.

 

[Chim Chiminy]

Ours graduates first week of June, barring any more school cancellations.

We are planning to have it catered by a friend who owns a German food catering truck. She also does the most wonderful cakes. I like the idea of the cupcake tower!

I was thinking we may want to have more American offerings as well, for any picky eaters. though I can't imagine anyone turning down snitzel or german potatoes!
We aren't inviting a ton of people, so not too worried about the cost and quite frankly the aspect of not having to run around prepping and cooking during that time is worth it.
I don't think I have ever really gotten to enjoy the kids birthdays because I am doing everything. For this, I am happy to have someone else do most of the work.

 

[Debbie7452]

My DD graduated last year and we did a candy buffet. I got some great ideas from the "candy Buffet" thread on the community board. Do a search and check out the pictures. Mine was smaller, but some people really go all out. Just for the record, we had LOTS of candy leftover, even though ours was smaller scale. It was a huge hit!

 

[DisneyCrazy2]

Great ideas! Thanks everyone...keep them coming!

jgates -- I would love the recipe for the Texas Cavier!

 

[kalliyan1]

A thought on scheduling: With so many of his friends graduating along with him, you might consider not holding your Open house on THE DAY. It's perfectly acceptable to hold a party on the Friday or Saturday night before graduation, or to have a brunch on Saturday after a Friday night graduation.

His graduation is on friday evening and the open house at this point would be the next afternoon. With regards to scheduling, thats about the only time I can do it. Him and his dad leave on Sunday for his senior trip

 

[kalliyan1]

I'd go for subway sandwiches, chips, veggie trays, cookies. bottles of water and sodas. Many of the kids go to a number of open houses in a matter of few hours so they tend to "graze" their way through those open houses. Good luck

That's whats weird around here...when I lived in Michigan and Illinois everyone had graduation parties. Here in NC, NOONE has them or parties. That's not gonna stop me though

 

[kalliyan1]

My DD graduated last year and we did a candy buffet. I got some great ideas from the "candy Buffet" thread on the community board. Do a search and check out the pictures. Mine was smaller, but some people really go all out. Just for the record, we had LOTS of candy leftover, even though ours was smaller scale. It was a huge hit!

That's beautiful!!! what is in the bottom of the pixie stix container?

 

[kalliyan1]

You are planning to serve far too many sweets. HS boys need real food!

If you are a Costco member, they have a good selection of frozen appetizers which you just need to heat up.

To make things really easy, order some delivery pizza.

I wasn't going to serve all of those...it was just some ideas and I wasn't sure which one to do

 

[kalliyan1]

everyone for all your ideas....i'm making a list and feel like thanks to my dis friends, things are starting to come together already....keep the ideas coming